Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic of
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 on March 11, 2020[1]. The rapidly escalating numbers of individuals
infected globally remain on the rise and little is still known about the
course and outcomes of this serious infection in a vulnerable population
of pregnant patients and their fetuses.
Professional societies and institutions involved in the care of pregnant
patients, including Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine
(SMFM)[2, 3] from United States, American College
of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG)[4, 5] from
United States, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
(RCOG)[6] from United Kingdom, International
Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
(ISUOG)[7], United States Centers of disease
control (CDC)[8, 9], the World Health Organization
(WHO)[10], College National de Gynecologie et
Obstetrique Francais (CNGOF)[11] from France,
Società Italiana di Ecografia Ostetrico Ginecologica /Istituto Superiore
Sanità (SIEOG/ISS)[12, 13] from Italy and the
Catalan Health Service (CatSalut)[14, 15] from
Spain have released independent guidelines for the assessment and care
of pregnant patients from prenatal course to intrapartum to postpartum.
A paper published by Boelig et al in March 2020 to guide Maternal Fetal
Medicine specialists on the care of SARS-Cov-2 pregnant patients, urged
healthcare providers and their institution to develop internal
guidelines to have their unit ready to care for these patients[2].
In order to help institutions keep up with this rapidly evolving
landscape; the authors of this paper aim to summarize and discuss all
the current guidelines put forth by the aforementioned professional
societies and institutions into one document. The primary goal is to
allow institutions access to a comprehensive summary of guidelines
related to the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in pregnancies; which they can adapt
to their practice environment and capabilities. The primary focus of all
published guidelines is to design a model where patients and their
families, as well as healthcare workers in the frontline of the pandemic
are protected and prepared.